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Thiruvilaiyadal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ondraanavan Uruvil

From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. B. Sundarambal
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thiruvilaiyadal
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
30 Sept 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ondraanavan uruvil irandaanavan
Uruvaana sendhamizhil moondraanavan
Ondraanavan uruvil irandaanavan
Uruvaana sendhamizhil moondraanavan
Nandraana vedhaththil naangaanavan
Namachchivaaya ena aindhaanavan
Nandraana vedhaththil naangaanavan
Namachchivaaya ena aindhaanavan
Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan
Aaaa….aaa….aaa…
Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan
Innisai swrangalil ezhaanavan
Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan
Innisai swrangalil ezhaanavan
Siththikkum porulgalil ettaanavan
Siththikkum porulgalil ettaanavan
Thiththikkum navarasa viththaanavan
Thiththikkum navarasa viththaanavan
Paththaanavan nenjil patraanavan
Pannirukai velavanai petraanavan
Mutradhavan moola mudhalaanavan
Munnaikkum pinnaikkum naduvaanavan
Munnaikkum pinnaikkum naduvaanavan
Aanaagi pennaagi nindraanavan
Avaiyondru thaanendru sonnaanavan
Aanaagi pennaagi nindraanavan
Avaiyondru thaanendru sonnaanavan
Thaan paadhi umai paadhi kondaanavan
Saripaadhi penmaikku thandhaanavan
Kaatraanavan kuliraanavan
Neeraanavan neruppaanavan
Netraagi indraagi endraikkum nilaiyaagi
Oootraagi nindraanavan
Anbil oliyaagi nindraanavan
He is the One, and He became two in form,
In classical Tamil, He is the three,
He is the One, and He became two in form,
In classical Tamil, He is the three,
In the sacred Vedas, He is the four,
In the holy chant 'Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya', He is the five,
In the sacred Vedas, He is the four,
In the holy chant 'Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya', He is the five,
In the rich tastes of life, He is the six,
Aaaa... aaa... aaaa...
In the rich tastes of life, He is the six,
In the sweet notes of music, He is the seven,
In the rich tastes of life, He is the six,
In the sweet notes of music, He is the seven,
In the spiritual powers to attain, He is the eight,
In the spiritual powers to attain, He is the eight,
He is the seed of the nine sweet emotions,
He is the seed of the nine sweet emotions,
He is the ten, He is the devotion in the heart,
He is the father of the twelve-armed Lord of the spear,
He is ageless, the primal source of all,
He is the center between the past and the future,
He is the center between the past and the future,
He stood as man and He stood as woman,
He revealed that both are truly one,
He stood as man and He stood as woman,
He revealed that both are truly one,
He took half for Himself and half for Uma,
He gave an equal half to womanhood,
He is the wind, He is the cool breeze,
He is the water, He is the fire,
Being yesterday and today, standing eternal forever,
He stood as an ever-flowing spring,
He stood as the light of love.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic devotional song from 'Thiruvilaiyadal' (1965) is a poetic numerical progression praising the cosmic, infinite nature of Lord Shiva. Lyricist Kannadasan sequentially integrates sacred numbers from one to twelve with cosmological and cultural concepts: 1 (the Supreme One), 2 (Shiva and Shakti), 3 (the forms of Tamil literature), 4 (Vedas), 5 (Panchakshara Mantra 'Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya'), 6 (tastes), 7 (musical notes), 8 (Ashtasiddhis/elements), 9 (Navarasas), 10 (directions/devotion), and 12 (the twelve-armed Murugan). Beyond the mathematical cadence, the hymn explores Shiva as the transcendent divine force existing outside time, age, and form. It celebrates the profound philosophy of Ardhanarishvara—where Shiva shares half his body with Goddess Uma—symbolizing absolute balance, unity of cosmic forces, and ultimate gender equality. The song concludes by identifying God as all elements of nature (wind, water, fire) and the supreme light radiating through unconditional love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ennum / Numerical Progression (எண்ணும் நயம்)

“Ondraanavan ... Pannirukai velavanai petraanavan”

The lyrics use a structured numerical count from 1 (Ondru) to 12 (Pannirandu) to map out key philosophical concepts in Hinduism and Tamil lore.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Kaatraanavan kuliraanavan”

The line repeats the initial 'K' sound ('Kaat...' and 'Kuli...'), adding rhythmic harmony.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan / Innisai swrangalil ezhaanavan”

The second consonant 'n' (ன்) in 'Inba' and 'Innisai' matches, creating classical Tamil ethugai rhyme.

Anaphora / Refrain (-aanavan)

“Kaatraanavan / Kuliraanavan / Neeraanavan / Neruppaanavan”

The repetitive suffix '-aanavan' ('He became...') across multiple lines builds cumulative emotional and philosophical resonance.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered by the legendary devotional singer-actress K. B. Sundarambal, this song is considered one of the greatest devotional compositions in Tamil cinema history. Written by Kannadasan, the song masterfully illustrates the concept of 'Ardhanarishvara' (half-male, half-female divinity), depicting spiritual gender equality in classical Tamil poetry.

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